Thursday.. Friday.. Saturday.. Sunday.. Whoooaah! A whooping four long days of non-work festive holidays for this Chinese New Year (CNY)! For many of us, the duration of the holidays is long enough to make us sit down and ponder “so, how shall I spend my Saturday and Sunday?” after the yearly ritual of visiting relatives (and vice versa) during Nian Chu Yi (first day of CNY) and Nian Chu Er (second day of CNY). Well, there are a few things that you can do. You can choose to visit your (more distance) relatives (we hope that we are not getting some frowns). Or you can choose to get out of Singapore to Bintan Island for a short getaway. Or you can choose to stay within Singapore and grab a hotel stay for a short staycation. Or you can choose to ride. Yes, the fourth option sounds fun! But where?

For most cyclists (including myself), it seems that plying on the same cycling route on that weather-beaten bicycle will soon become a stodgy activity in no more than a couple of weeks. Continuing with that same path is likely to familiarise you with the typical timings that the elderly couple from your adjacent apartment will be walking their Jack Russell Terrier. Somehow, novice and avid riders alike, we cannot seem to stay put in the same place doing the same thing. As cyclists with a ride-hard-and-play-hard attitude, we have a penchant for new stuff. Anything. As long as it is new to us.

1. Delivered Right to your Doorstep - FastWe understand that bicycle supplies are rarely a matter of life and death but it is always good to get your toys or replacement parts early before the weekend rides. We aim to deliver the stuff to you in 2 working days unless specified otherwise (by our partner merchant or by Ta-Q-bin our courier partner)

If looks could kill…it’s a material world
The very first thing other cyclists or even non-cyclists would notice is the appearance of your bike. Some may even judge you based on the type/brand of bicycles you use. Sure, most of us will drool at the sight of the latest Pinarello Dogmas, Specialized S-Works Venge or Cervelo RCA but when was the last time you ‘wowed’ at a truly artistic marvel of a bicycle?

Above image: Dean Koh
Saddle selection is an area in the bike building process that should never be taken lightly. Choosing the wrong saddle will give you an uncomfortable ride or worse, cause impotence.

Above photo: http://thepeopleofsantopoco.blogspot.sg
For those of us who had been mountain-biking for a while, the venerable 26 inch mountain bike has been around for the longest time and many honed their handling and riding skills on the 26 inch platform. Then about a decade ago, the very first 29 inch mountain bikes appeared which received a less than enthusiastic welcome to those who were so used to 26inch mountain bikes. Fast forward today, almost every bike company has a 29er model and improvements in ride geometry and availability of related accessories make it an irresistible choice for those considering a new mountain bike.

Given that this is your first road bike, and assuming that you are only owning one set of wheels, you should aim for a best set that money can buy that suits the terrain of routes you are likely to take most often.

With cycling fast gaining popularity as a form of sport and recreation in Singapore in recent years, it is common for cycling enthusiasts to participate in events such as the OCBC Cycle Singapore and even overseas cycling events in neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia. However, embarking on a long-distance cycling event may be daunting, especially for beginner cyclists. Having the right preparation and training for such events is crucial to reduce the risk of injury and knowing how and what to eat before, during and after the ride is important as well.